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Phase nucleation in curved space

Author

Listed:
  • Leopoldo R. Gómez

    (Universidad Nacional del Sur—IFISUR—CONICET)

  • Nicolás A. García

    (Universidad Nacional del Sur—IFISUR—CONICET)

  • Vincenzo Vitelli

    (Instituut-Lorentz, Universiteit Leiden)

  • José Lorenzana

    (Institute for Complex Systems, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
    University of Rome La Sapienza)

  • Daniel A. Vega

    (Universidad Nacional del Sur—IFISUR—CONICET)

Abstract

Nucleation and growth is the dominant relaxation mechanism driving first-order phase transitions. In two-dimensional flat systems, nucleation has been applied to a wide range of problems in physics, chemistry and biology. Here we study nucleation and growth of two-dimensional phases lying on curved surfaces and show that curvature modifies both critical sizes of nuclei and paths towards the equilibrium phase. In curved space, nucleation and growth becomes inherently inhomogeneous and critical nuclei form faster on regions of positive Gaussian curvature. Substrates of varying shape display complex energy landscapes with several geometry-induced local minima, where initially propagating nuclei become stabilized and trapped by the underlying curvature.

Suggested Citation

  • Leopoldo R. Gómez & Nicolás A. García & Vincenzo Vitelli & José Lorenzana & Daniel A. Vega, 2015. "Phase nucleation in curved space," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-9, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms7856
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7856
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